The variable aperture of the iPhone 18 Pro series is installed in the Pro and Pro Max, and can be selected from 4 levels: ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, and ƒ/4.0 on the main camera. Only Pro Max, which was considered to be a strong candidate until just before, was wrong. The correct rumors are information based on parts and leaked materials, and the missing and unreflected items are notable for dimensions and considerations during development. The author, who has been in charge of variable aperture articles since July, has compared the rumors in 13 main articles reported on this site since January with Apple’s technical specifications.
The variable aperture of the iPhone 18 Pro is common to both models.
The aperture value ƒ/1.48 is smaller than the iPhone 17 Pro’s ƒ/1.78, allowing more light to enter. There’s no need to choose the large and heavy Pro Max just because of the variable aperture. The differences in the photos you can take with the four aperture settings are explained in detail in the September 10th article.
Variable aperture rumors hit and miss list
We selected 9 main rumors from 13 articles and compared them with the technical specifications.The results were: 2 were correct, 2 were off, 1 was not reflected, and 4 were undetermined.
| Rumor reported (date of publication) | judgement |
|---|---|
| Equipped with variable aperture (January 10th) | Hit: Consistently since January |
| All three rear cameras have 48MP sensors (July 20th) | Correct: As stated in the leaked materials |
| Available only on Pro Max (August 20th) | Disadvantage: Also included in Pro |
| Pro Max body 8.8mm (excluding camera part, April 24th) | Outlier: Apple’s published value is 8.75mm for both models. |
| Telephoto aperture expansion (July 17th) | Not reflected: Telephoto is the same as the previous model, ƒ/2.8 |
| Teleconverter (January 29th) | Undeterminable: There is no mention of adoption in the specifications |
| Future improvements to ultra-wide-angle lenses (March 31st) | Undeterminable: It is not possible to determine whether there is an improvement based on the specifications. |
| Thickness of camera part (April 24th) | Undeterminable: Not stated in specifications |
| Shipping timing and production increase (April 14th) | Undeterminable: Cannot be confirmed based on specifications |
The two items that hit the mark came from statements made by suppliers and leaked materials. The two items that were off were based on rumors about the body size (8.8mm) and reports that were not mentioned in the materials or provided no evidence (only for Pro Max). While the answer to the question of whether or not it is installed has been obtained through multiple sources, the range of the types of aircraft equipped with it differs depending on the source of information.
How have the forecasts for variable aperture changed since January?
As of January, there were two theories as to which model it was equipped with, and after leaning towards both models in April, the theory split again in August.
January to April: Increased accuracy in the supply network
In the April 16th article, we point out that the Pro Max theory is backsliding based on the number of suppliers. The clue to the inclusion of both models can be seen in the parts supply system at this stage.
July-September: Forecasts vary depending on interpretation of materials
Even though the pixel count was revealed in leaked documents on July 20th, it remained unclear which models would be equipped with it. This site reported only Pro Max on August 20th, Pro on August 23rd, and Pro Max again on September 5th, so the ranking has changed in just over two weeks.
In the code analysis of iOS27 introduced in the September 8th article, there was material that strongly indicated the installation, and what was easy to misread until the end was the range of models equipped with it.
Why was only the Pro Max theory wrong?
The theory that it is only the Pro Max is thought to have relied heavily on the basis that it was not written in the materials and the precedent that the Tetra Prism Telephoto preceded the iPhone 15 Pro Max. None of this is direct evidence that it won’t be included in the Pro.
In my August 20th article, I also made a reservation that there is a difference between no mention and non-installation. However, even though it is in the form of a question, the fact that the headline leaves an impression on the possibilities unique to Pro Max is an issue that became clear through this answer matching.
Both model theories were based on tangible materials, such as the number of sources and images that purportedly showed what appeared to be aperture blades. Looking at this example, it can be said that there were fewer misreadings if the emphasis was placed on the materials that could actually be confirmed rather than on the parts that were not mentioned.
iPhone18 Pro aperture value ~ Our site’s prediction is 0
Of the 13 articles examined this time, 0 articles predicted specific aperture values or number of stages. The author’s article on July 17th also states that the aperture value has not been made public.
Both the July 20th leaked document and the September 8th code analysis indicated the existence of a variable aperture, but did not mention the stages or numerical values. At least within the scope of this site’s reporting, it was not known until the announcement how many levels the selection would be possible. In the future, when rumors that go into numbers come out, it would be a good idea to confirm that they are backed by evidence.
iPhone18 Pro or Pro Max which one to choose?
As long as there is no difference in camera specifications, the selection will be based on price, weight, battery life, and screen size. According to Apple’s published values, the maximum run time for the Pro is 24 hours at 211g, and up to 30 hours (normal use) for the Pro Max at 249g. Before booking, decide which is more important to you, the 6-hour difference or the 38g difference in weight.
Photo: Apple
Source: iPhone Mania
